Abstract
Dwarf galaxies seem so simple. Yet the processes that lead to star formation on galactic scales are poorly understood. We have, therefore, embarked on a comprehensive study of a sample of 42 dwarf irregular (dIm) galaxies spanning a range in luminosity in order to unravel the processes which govern star formation in these tiny systems. Our approach begins with assembling a complete dataset on these galaxies, tracing their stellar populations, gas content, dynamics, and star formation indicators. We have been granted 376 h of time with the VLA in the current B, C, and D array configurations to obtain deep HI-line maps of dIm galaxies with high angular and velocity resolution. We will combine these data with optical, UV, and IR data to answer the following questions: (1) What regulates cloud/star formation in tiny galaxies? (2) How is star formation occurring in the outer parts of dwarf galaxies, where the gas is gravitationally stable? (3) And, what happens to the star formation process at breaks in the exponential stellar light profiles?
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Bigiel, F., Leroy, A., Walter, F., Brinks, E., de Blok, W.J.G., Madore, B., Thornley, M.D.: The star formation law in nearby galaxies on sub-kpc scales. AJ 136, 2846–2871 (2008)
Bigiel, F., Leroy, A., Walter, F., Blitz, L., Brinks, E., de Blok, W.J.G., Madore, B..: The extremely inefficient star formation in the outer disks of nearby galaxies. AJ 140, 1194–1213 (2010)
Hunter, D.A., Elmegreen, B.G.: Star formation properties of a large sample of irregular galaxies. AJ 128, 2170–2205 (2004)
Hunter, D.A., Elmegreen, B.G.: Broadband imaging of a large sample of irregular galaxies. ApJS 162, 49–79 (2006)
Leroy, A.K., Bolatto, A., Walter, F., Blitz, L.: Molecular gas in the low-metallicity, star-forming Dwarf IC 10. ApJ 643, 825–843 (2006)
Leroy, A.K., Walter, F., Bigiel, F., Usero, A., Weiss, A., Brinks, E., de Blok, W.J.G., Kennicutt, R.C., Schuster, K.-F., Kramer, C., Wiesemeyer, H.W., Roussel, H.: Heracles: The HERA CO line extragalactic survey. AJ 137, 4670–4696 (2009)
Leroy, A.K., Walter, F., Brinks, E., Bigiel, F., de Blok, W.J.G., Madore, B, Thornley, M.D.: The star formation efficiency in nearby galaxies: measuring where gas forms stars effectively. AJ 136, 2782–2845 (2008)
Walter, F., Brinks, E., de Blok, W.J.G., Bigiel, F., Kennicutt, R.C., Thornley, M.D., Leroy, A.: THINGS: The HI nearby galaxy survey. AJ 136, 2563–2647 (2008)
Wilcots, E.M., Miller, B.W.: The kinematics and distribution of H I in IC 10. AJ 116, 2363–2394 (1998)
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to NRAO for time on the VLA and the people at the VLA who make things run. The VLA is a facility of the NRAO, itself a facility of the US National Science Foundation, and is operated by Associated Universities, Inc. We are also grateful to the National Science Foundation for funding the LITTLE THINGS project with grants to Hunter (AST-0707563), Elmegreen (AST-0707426), Simpson (AST-0707468), and Young (AST-0707835).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Consortia
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Hunter, D.A., Brinks, E., LITTLE THINGS team. (2012). The LITTLE THINGS Survey. In: Papaderos, P., Recchi, S., Hensler, G. (eds) Dwarf Galaxies: Keys to Galaxy Formation and Evolution. Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22018-0_30
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22018-0_30
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-22017-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-22018-0
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)